Text: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5).
Is there anyone here who prefers the darkness to the light? I am talking about the darkness of night as compared to the lightness of day.
I would venture to say that most of us remember the days of the kerosene lamp. That kerosene lamp hanging on the wall did not give off a great deal of light and besides that it had that oil odor.
Also, I remember the very early days of my life when my dad worked in the coal mine and each miner had a small carbide lamb attached to his safety hat. Carbide is a power and when you added a little water to it, gas was given off and this is what burned to give the miners light in the dark mine tunnels.
A little bit of light is better than no light at all. Personally, I don’t like to be in the dark. When our kids were growing up, we had night lights throughout the house. In fact we still have night lights in each of our rooms. I just don’t like to stumble around in the dark.
I remember growing up in the hills of Southern Ohio. We lived in a coal mining and strip mining town. We did not have street lights because we did not really even have streets. We had gravel roads that were graded periodically by the county.
When night came, especially in the winter time, it really got dark. We did not have inside plumbing so that meant our toilet was outside. This was referred to as the outhouse. I remember we had one flashlight, but most of the time the batteries were rundown.
Eventually the coal mining company ran an electric line to our house. I say our house, but it was owned by the coal company. This was a real improvement and it meant we could see much more than we could with the kerosene lamps. Then my dad managed to get an old radio from somewhere and we were able to get some reception and could listen to shows like:
The Lone Ranger
Captain Marvel
Jack Benny
Ma Perkins
The Great Gildersleeve
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
I am glad we have light because I feel more secure in the light than in the dark.
Do you think that God created the light first so that he could see the other things he was about to create and that if they were unacceptable in his sight, he could wipe them out?
I don’t think so. The light was necessary for everything else he was about to create. Since he would create the vegetation, he knew light would be necessary for the vegetation to survive. God did all creation in an orderly manner.
There are two kinds of darkness. There is a physical darkness and then there is a spiritual darkness.
Physical darkness is not having sight that we might see people or things around us. People can live in physical darkness. People have been born blind and have never been able to see even outlines or shape as you and I do.
Our daughter’s step-son and his wife are the parents of a baby boy, who is three months of age, and who was born blind in both eyes. This was not revealed until after the baby was born. Doctors said the retinas in both eyes did not develop during the baby’s fetal life.
There are many physical blind people in the world and many of these people are very productive. There are blind people in a variety of professions and vocations. Physical blindness does not mean life is over. Physical blindness will not keep a person from spending eternity with the heavenly Father. Physical blindness will not separate one from the love of God.
Isaiah talks about God’s people walking in darkness and those living in the shadow of death (9:2). The people in the days of Isaiah were disobedient to God. They were not obeying the Law. The people were living the ways of the world. They refused to accept God’s love and kindness. The people looked to other nations and mediums and fortunetellers for help and assistance.
The people began to blame God for all their misfortune and the things that were happening in their lives. The same thing happens today to those who tend to leave God out of their lives and live as though they are in control. When they reach a breaking point and nothing is in their favor, people blame God when in reality the misery is self-induced.
At this point, people are in darkness and this is exactly what Isaiah was talking about. He was trying to tell the people that there would be a Savior, a Messiah that would be the light of the world. Isaiah’s prophecy as well as the prophecy of the other prophets would not occur or become reality for approximately another 700 years.
When Jesus started his ministry, this prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled. Matthew quotes Isaiah’s words in chapter 1:15,16: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
Matthew’s readers were mostly Jewish so as he quoted from the Old Testament a bridge was formed connecting the words of the Old Testament with the words of the New Testament. God’s word never changes; it is the same yesterday as it is today and as it will be tomorrow. God is consistent, honest, and truthful in what he says.
Isaiah went on to prophecy that the Lord would “Lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths…” (Isaiah 42:16). God’s people in Israel and Judah were supposed to be leading people, but instead they could not see the forest from the trees.
God had taken care of his people, but the people were not grateful for his generosity. The people were unfaithful to God. Their ears were not used for hearing what God had to say. Their actions caused self-inflicting wounds. They were physically in the light, but spiritually in the dark.
God created each one of us and gave us the breath of life. Some people thank God for this and praise him on a daily basis. Other people never give God a second thought until things don’t go their way or they reach mountain they are unable to climb or rivers they are unable to cross.
Maybe sickness comes upon them or their loved ones because they have not taken care of their bodies and the blame is cast upon God. The storms of life come upon them and they are unable to cope because they have lost faith or faith is not a part of their lives. They feel as though darkness has closed in on them and there is nothing that can be done.
What many people fail to realize is that there is always light at the other end of the tunnel. God is always ready to shine his light upon us. He is always ready to lead us down the straight and narrow path if we will only let him.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).
The Psalmist said, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (27:1).
All of us have problems and difficulties in life. It may be a sickness, death, depression, loneliness, unhappiness, or anything else, but God is always present casting his light upon us. He is there uplifting us and giving us strength. We can believe this because the Lord himself said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”
(Hebrews: 13: 5).
He is there to bring us out of the darkness and into the light. The procedure for us to follow is very simple: Repent of our sins and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our own personal Lord and Savior.
Nicodemus came to Jesus when it was dark to find out where Jesus received his authority to do some of the signs and miracles he had performed. Nicodemus came when it was dark because he didn’t want anyone to see him. Remember, Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews and he was supposed to know all the answers.
Nicodemus failed to realize that although he came to Jesus at night, he was actually coming to the Light. Little did he know that this would be the turning point in his life.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). This was news to Nicodemus because Nicodemus thought that God’s kingdom was for the Jews and being a Jew he would automatically have admission.
Nicodemus did not realize or understand that the kingdom of God was a personal kingdom and not a worldly or universal kingdom. It did not make any difference if you were Jew or Gentile, whether you were from one tribe or another, or from the North or the South. The important issue is repentance and rebirth.
Many people do not understand this concept today. They do not realize that admission into the eternal kingdom is not automatic. Some people do not believe there is a straight and narrow road leading to heaven and a wide crooked road leading to hell. They are convinced that all works out in the end.
Some believe that when this life is over that is the end. They become a thing of the past and therefore forgotten. Consequently these people choose to follow the only road they believe exists and they believe all others are on the same road. There is no wrong – everything is right.
There are those who do not believe God even exists. They believe the world just happened and man came from monkeys. Some also do not believe in the red words in the Bible are words spoken by Jesus, but that they are just word written by man operating under the direction of man. Some people say Jesus was just another man and was not really God.
When Jesus started discussing being “born again”, Nicodemus did not understand. His mind was focused on a physical birth and not a spiritual birth. Nicodemus knew at this point that there was something definitely different about Jesus and what Jesus was saying was of utmost importance. At this point in Nicodemus’ life, he was living in darkness and did not know it.
When Jesus explained the “born again” concept to Nicodemus and explained his own mission on earth, I believe the eyes of Nicodemus were opened. I don’t think he fully understood, but at least he was thinking.
This same thing happens to people today. We as Christians witness to people, but not all of the people listen or understand what we are saying. Some do understand and we are able to lead them to Christ. Some people are just plain stubborn.
Story: “Two Suns”
A man laughed and asked, “What advantage has a religious man over anyone like myself? Does not the sun shine on me as on him, this fine day?” “Yes,” replied his companion, “but the religious man has two suns shining on him at once – one on his body, the other on his soul.” (C.H. Spurgeon)
Some people do not want to listen to us because they think we are too religious or perhaps Jesus freaks. Jesus went about the country side preaching “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), but not all people believed him.
The Jews then complained about Him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:41)
And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” (John 6:42).
These Jewish leaders looked at Jesus as just another young carpenter from Nazareth. They refused to believe what he was saying. They were in darkness and did not know it. The Light was right there and they refused to accept it.
When Jesus sent out the disciples to preach, he told them that not all would accept their preaching and teaching. Jesus said, “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from you feet” (Matthew 10:14).
Jesus told his disciples this to show that they were separating themselves from those who did not accept the Messiah. The people rejecting the Messiah were living in darkness. People of this day and age who do not accept Jesus are living in darkness. This is a spiritual darkness.
People might think that all is well with their lives or they think that perhaps they would consider listening and maybe accepting Jesus at a later date. Little do they realize that this could be their last opportunity and if this opportunity is missed, they have missed spending eternity in the presence of the Lord in his Kingdom.
God’s Word says, “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5). Darkness refers to evil. Man is sinful or has a sinful nature. Jesus Christ is the true light and has overcome evil. The light of Jesus leads us down the straight and narrow path and not the wide path of destruction.
Jesus said that those who follow him are the light of the world. If we are the light of the world, we must not hide his light, but instead, we must let it shine so that other people will receive benefit and be brought into the fold. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Story: “Walking in the Light”
A woman in Palestine sat under an olive tree sewing handmade lace on a handkerchief. A woman paused to inquire the price of her work, and to have a conversation. “Do you live here?”
“No, I live over the hill. Last night as I walked home a panther followed me, but because I carried a lantern and walked in the circle of light I was safe.”
“You mean the panther would not attack you while you were in the light?”
“That is right, madam.”
This is a marvelous lesson for all Christians.
As long as we are walking in the Light, the Light of Jesus, we have his protection. As long as we keep our eyes on the Light, we will not stumble or fall. As long as the Light shines through us to others, they too will sail into the harbor of saving grace.
Conclusion:
When sin entered the world through the disobedience of mankind, a separation between man and God became apparent. Darkness fell upon man and man’s perfect relationship with God had been lost. Man’s eyes were opened and mankind was forever lost, but God put into place his backup plan. God knew man from the inside out because he created him.
Man had made a grievous mistake, but God was willing to give man another opportunity. God had a plan to redeem man and give him another opportunity to form a righteous relationship with him. God would send His Son into the world to pay the penalty for every sin man committed or would commit. God would give up his only Son to shed his blood for the remission of man’s sins.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3;16).
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13).
Darkness came into the world through man’s disobedience while Light came into the world through the love and grace of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
